Compress PDF
Reduce file size while maintaining quality. Fast, free PDF compression tool.
Click or drag files here
Upload the PDF you want to compress
Supported formats: PDF
Lower quality = smaller file size
Shrink PDF Files, Not Quality
Big PDF files are a headache. They bounce back from emails, take forever to upload, and eat up your storage space. PlatinumPDF Compress PDF solves this instantly. Our intelligent compression algorithm analyzes your document to find the perfect balance between file size and visual fidelity. Whether you need an Extreme Compression for a scanned document or a High Quality optimization for a presentation, you have full control. And unlike server-side tools, we compress files right on your device for maximum privacy and speed.
Powerful Features
4 Compression Levels
Choose from Extreme, High, Balanced (Recommended), or Low compression to fit your specific needs.
Custom Quality Slider
For power users: Fine-tune the image compression quality (1-100%) to get the exact file size you want.
Privacy Mode
Optionally strip metadata (author info, creation dates) to further reduce size and protect privacy.
Instant Reduction
Our WebAssembly engine runs locally, often compressing files 10x faster than cloud uploaders.
Text Preservation
Maintain selectable text and sharp fonts even at high compression levels for maximum readability.
No Size Limits
Compress PDFs of any size (100MB+). Since we don't upload files, you aren't restricted by server limits.
How to Compress a PDF (Step-by-Step)
Upload PDF
Drag and drop your large PDF file into the drop zone.
Choose Level
Select a preset: 'Balanced' is best for most files. 'Extreme' is great for scans.
Fine Tune (Optional)
Adjust the 'Image Quality' slider or toggle 'Preserve Metadata' in settings.
Compress
Click the button to start. You'll see the progress bar move instantly.
Download
See the size reduction in real-time (e.g., -70%) and download your optimized file.
Who Can Benefit? (15+ Use Cases)
Professional & Corporate
- Job Applicants: Shrink your portfolio or resume to meet the "Unlimited 5MB" upload limit on job portals.
- Law Firms: Compress large scanned case files to email them to clients or courts.
- Architects: Optimize high-res blueprint PDFs so they can be viewed on tablets in the field.
- Sales Teams: Reduce size of marketing decks so they load instantly when sent to prospects.
- Government: Compress official forms to meet strict portal submission requirements.
- Designers: Create lightweight "Preview" versions of high-res assets for client approval.
- Freelancers: Archive tax receipts and invoices without using up all your cloud storage quota.
Personal & Everyday
- Students: Compress scanned textbooks or assignments to upload to the school's LMS.
- Genealogists: Reduce the size of scanned family history documents for sharing via email.
- Homeowners: Shrink large manuals or warranty documents to save on your phone.
- Writers: Create a small, email-friendly version of your manuscript draft for beta readers.
- Travelers: Optimize travel docs (visas, tickets) so they download fast on slow hotel Wi-Fi.
- Musicians: Compress sheet music libraries to fit more songs on an iPad storage.
- Photographers: Convert a PDF portfolio into a lightweight version for your website.
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: The Job Portal Reject
Input: A designer's portfolio is 25MB. The job site limit is 5MB.
Action: Use "Balanced" compression.
Output: File shrinks to 3.5MB (-86%) while keeping images looking great. Upload success!
Scenario 2: The Scanned Archive
Input: A user scanned 100 pages of old receipts. The file is huge (150MB).
Action: Use "Extreme" compression and uncheck "Preserve Metadata".
Output: File reduced to 12MB. Text is still readable, perfect for archiving.
Scenario 3: The Presentation
Input: Need to email a slide deck but keeping crisp charts is vital.
Action: Use "Low" compression (Best Quality).
Output: File size drops by 30% by optimizing internal structures, with zero visible loss in chart quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will my file size be reduced?
It varies by file. Scanned documents often shrink by 80-90%. Text-heavy files might reduce by 20-50%. Our 'Balanced' mode typically achieves 60-70% reduction with good quality.
Will my images become blurry?
In 'Balanced' or 'High' quality modes, the difference is usually invisible to the naked eye. If you need pixel-perfect print quality, use 'Low' compression. 'Extreme' mode may cause some blurriness.
Is my data safe?
Yes. We do not upload your file to any server. The compression happens entirely on your computer (client-side) using your browser's processor. It's the safest way to compress sensitive docs.
Can I compress multiple files at once?
Currently this tool processes one file at a time to ensure maximum stability and speed for large files. We are working on a batch mode!
Why did my file size increase?
Rarely, if a PDF is already highly optimized, reprocessing it might slightly increase size due to adding new file headers. If this happens, try a stronger compression level.
Does it preserve hyperlinks and bookmarks?
Yes, the internal structure of your PDF, including text, links, and table of contents, is preserved unless you specifically choose options that alter them.